WITCH SHIfT

Mar

“I don’t like the fact that he can get to you.” JP said upset.

“To be fair JP he can get to either one of us. I was more worried he knew all about your parents and that they were going to try and take you away. How does he know that? I mean is he all knowing? Is he an Oracle too? I’m kind of freaking out here.”

“Easy baby,” he said rubbing my back. “Trust me it’s easy to see my parents are not happy with me and want to do something about it. I just have to not let them.”

Even I had a hard time believing he could do anything to stop them. They were the two strongest witches in the country maybe, and that was not good for our chances. When the Guardian touched me something happened, I wasn’t sure what, but something, and I knew things. I knew things trained witches knew. It was like I had been to college so to speak for witches and learned all there was to learn, but I was still hamstrung with no powers. This whole thing was a mess.

“What time was your brother joining us,” I asked again.

Apparently Charlie had talked to JP and we were all going to meet for dinner. I knew it must be true because we weren’t going to Frank and Wieners. We were meeting at a place called Biatro’s Bistro. I guess it was one of the more upscale places, upscale enough I had to change out of my jeans, yup already hated it.

“He’s meeting us out front, in fact, there he is.” JP said looking straight ahead.

Ok I could see where the good looks came from in the family. Both the brothers were good looking and Charlie was definitely someone that would catch most women’s eyes, thankfully for JP, just not mine. I smiled to myself and he looked at me weird.

“Relax I won’t ask for anything incriminating on you?” I said.

“Just knowing you brought it up is enough to make me nervous Mar.” He said pretending to be scared.

I laughed and that was how Charlie found us. We were both laughing as we came up to him. “Oh little brother, you did well.”

I giggled and JP took a fake swing at his brothers shoulder.

“Cut it out, she’s mine.” He said in his defense.

“Just looking at her, looking at you, I couldn’t steal her if I tried.” He said smiling.

“Ok boys, impress the girl time is over. If you want to impress me, feed me, I’m starving.” I said breaking up the bromance.

“Oh I like you,” Charlie said taking my arm and leading me inside leaving JP outside. He was so riling his brother up it wasn’t funny. Of course if him riling him up got me fed quicker I wasn’t going to say a word.

We got to the maitre d table and waited as a tall dark haired man waited to seat us. He looked put out till JP came in mumbling.

“Ah, JP, we have your table ready.” The man said with an old world accent, maybe Italian or Spanish.

“Thanks B, can we stick my brother in the closet or something.”

“Of course, high level witches are no problem for us.” He said glaring at Charlie and I began laughing.

“Whoa, I was just kidding. Here brother take your girl back. I want to eat tonight.” Charlie said letting go of me and stepping away a foot.

JP came up to me and slid his arm around me. It felt so right. I may have actually sighed.

“I’ll hope that’s from happiness over him and not relief over me letting go?” Charlie said.

“My little secret,” I said.

“Right this way JP,” the man said.

It was a beautiful dark rimmed room built for intimacy and I wished we were here alone. I let JP lead me to the table and we all took our seats. JP ordered a bottle of wine and a pitcher of Pepsi which the dark haired man smiled about. I bet it wasn’t on the menu and he must have arranged it ahead of time.

“I appreciate the Pepsi,” I said to him smiling.

“Oh JP she is perfect for you.” He said smiling and walking away.

“Ok what is he? I couldn’t sense his origins at all.” Charlie asked.

“A walker, he is originally was from Spain and then Mexico and now resides here. This place has the best food in town. Mom and Dad will find it tolerable as they eat every last bite.” JP said snidely.

“Stop,” I said not wanting any fights tonight. “I’m sure they will love it and thank you both for thinking of it.”

“You’re both right.” Charlie said smiling. “They will thank me for bringing them something that they can eat, and will condemn JP for not eating as an entire family first. JP is right when he says they are a pain in the ass.”

I would have spit out my Pepsi if it had gotten here yet. JP just laughed at me and his brother. Something I knew right then and there, these two were tight. The youngest always rebelling and the oldest trying to smooth it over. It was wonderful to see since me and my sister weren’t as close. I was actually a smidgen jealous.

“Ok I get it,” I said smiling as we got our drinks. We placed our orders and Charlie asked for two to go when it looked we were about done. Then he also ordered a pizza, a specialty pizza because that’s all they made here, to go as well.

We both looked at him. “The people at the lodge deserve something. It’s been a day for them.”

I wondered but JP just nodded. “Ok, so let’s cut to the chase. You two like each other and you want to see where it goes without our parents ruining it for you. I think we can pull this off. I saw you perform magic on television. So how does a level one perform magic?”

“I’m a focus,” I said not frightened at all.

“No freaking way? Shit that’s worse than being a level one. Mom and Dad will try and kidnap you and make you use your powers for them. Damn JP, when you make something hard, you make something hard.”

“Actually I make it hard,” I said not realizing the double meaning till Charlie stopped choking on his wine. Then I just smiled like I meant it.

“Holy hell, our parents are not going to like you at all. I love it and I love you. Run away with me and leave JP to our parents.” He said smiling bright.

“Excuse me JP, would you like the closet special now?” B said from out of nowhere.

“Shit, where did you come from. Dude I was just kidding. JP tell him I was just kidding.” Charlie begged.

“Thanks B, but another bottle of wine would be good. My brother has a hard time holding his in.” JP said smirking.

“I need to get out of this town. Everyone here has it in for me and they don’t even know me.” Charlie pouted.

“Wait till they do, then they will run you out.” I said not wanting to be left out.

We all laughed and then Charlie turned serious. “How strong a focus are you?”

“Right now I can only focus JP’s magic. Watch,” I said taking JP’s hand in mine and letting our energy mix and flow.

“Ok stop,” he said hurriedly. “I don’t need our parents to come running. They can sense strong magic and that was strong.”

He was lost in thought as we all drank a little more. “I see no way around it. You have to stand up to them and the two of you together have to make it stick. Our parents are greedy but they do value their own skins as well. I think if you can draw enough power you can make them back down. It’s too bad you couldn’t draw mine as well.”

“No it’s not or they would want you two hooked up, and I love you brother, but I am not giving Mar up for anyone.” JP said coming to my rescue before I could speak.

“Probably better that way, no offense Mar, but we are too alike, we would kill each other if we spent too much time together. So, we still are at where you two stand up to them and I have got your back.” Charlie finished.

“Won’t they disown you too?” I asked.

“Nope, they need one of us to carry on for them. I will make sure they know that when they get mad and ask for my help. From what I felt you should be able to hold them off, and that’s all you will have to do. I hope,” he said and we all nodded at that.

“So who are they hooking you up with,” I asked changing the subject.

“To be honest they have thrown every name in the book at me. Your sisters’ name was even thrown in there till they remembered who your dad was.”

JP had told me on the way here about what had happened and I had to still talk to dad about that but I was glad I knew. “Not sure why that would stop them. I mean my sister is a level forty-five. Are their many more of that strength out there?”

“No there isn’t, and that bugs the hell out of them. It just comes back that they think she may be too confrontational. Personally I like a confrontational girl once in a while.” He said smiling like it was his own joke.

“She’s already promised to someone isn’t she?” JP asked.

I nodded but I knew the same thing Charlie did. Promises didn’t mean shit when the strongest people in the country wanted something. Carolyn didn’t deserve Charlie though. He seemed great and she wasn’t. She deserved what she was going to get. Ok that may have been harsh. Old memories were coming back to haunt me. Easy Mar, relax, let it go.

“Too bad though.” Charlie said with that grin that meant he was going to try and shock me. “She is hot. Of course after seeing the pictures from the Chamberlain reception doesn’t hurt either.”

I laughed and JP looked confused. “Carolyn got drunk on Witches brew. She was dancing on the table to the delight of all the groomsmen. Mom and dad laughed when they heard but I think they were a little shocked too.”

“Seriously, you have parents who laugh over something like that? I need to meet your parents Mar.” Charlie said shocked.

“Sure, they would love you. Of course they love JP so they might wait to see how mean you are to him first.” I said letting my own twinkle show in my eye.

“Fine, I get it, quit picking on JP so much. It’s just so easy, I mean look at him.” Charlie said smirking.

“Yeah B the closet,” JP said and Charlie jumped out of his seat looking around.

“Oh you suck,” he said sitting back down looking at his brother. We were both still laughing. “Keep laughing. I still have the pictures from when we were kids. Remember when you rode the horse in the nude, what were you, three?”

“Dinner is over,” JP said blushing.

“Oh I want those,” I said standing up joining him.

“I’ll make you copies,” Charlie said winking. “Thank you two for inviting me to dinner. I haven’t had a good time in months. I needed this.”

“Are you ok Charlie?” JP asked serious.

“I can handle them.” He said knowing exactly what JP was talking about.

We all just nodded. JP took care of the bill and we all walked out. “You know our parents are going to make you wait at least another day. Want to have dinner tomorrow?”

“Sure Frank and Weinies it is,” I said beating JP to the choice.

“Did she just say we were eating hot dogs for dinner?” Charlie asked and JP laughed.

“She is all mine, and I love her.” He said hugging me tight.

“Ok hot dogs it is,” he said hugging me and then JP and then took off with the carry outs back toward his rental car. I liked Charlie, he was good for JP.